SYDNEY -- Streaming on ESPN+ on August 3 will be a junior lightweight title fight between Billy Dib (43-4, 24 KOs) and Tevin Farmer (25-4-1, 5 KOs). It will be a hometown fight for Australia's Dib and on the line will be a vacant IBF junior lightweight title. Dib has won titles earlier in his career and has also lost some title fights. For Farmer this will be only his second title fight, the first being ruled a no contest.
Dib is an orthodox fighter with quick hands. He likes to fight with his lead hand low and he is skilled with his jab. Along with that jab Dib also puts in good work with a quick left hook but he tends to throw one punch at a time and doesn't do a very good job of putting his punches together. He works better from the outside when he can sharp shoot his punches and when he gets inside he tends to look to land a single punch and then either clinch and dance out of danger. While Dib does have heavier hands than Farmer he isn't a huge puncher and he's been stopped twice in his career by two of the better opponent's he's faced.
The 32-year-old Dib has been fighting professionally since 2004 but hasn't always been involved in big fights. During his 14-year career he's fought for a world title eight times which certainly gives him the experience advantage over Farmer. However, he hasn't faced many top names, the best on his resume being Takashi Miura and Evgeny Gradovich who he fought twice, losing both times. Since he is an older fighter and isn't a huge name in the sport this could be his last chance to win a title and to do that he will need to take care of business against Farmer.
Farmer is a southpaw who has worked his way to title contention despite a rough start to his career and the fact that he has no power to speak of. What Farmer does have is a good jab and straight left hand and he will bang those punches upstairs and to the body. He likes to be aggressive in coming forward but isn't too aggressive and instead will look to land clean counter punches. Although Farmer doesn't have any real power he is an accurate puncher with quick hands and can surprise opponents with a sharp right hook. He is also good defensively, working out of the Philly shell which allows him to block and slip punches when he's in the pocket.
Farmer hasn't lost a fight since 2012 when he was stopped by Jose Pedraza. In fact, all four of his career losses came very early in his career and he's had to work hard to get to where he is now. Since that last loss Farmer has gone 18-0 with four knockouts. He did lose his most recent fight, which was a IBF junior lightweight title fight, to Kenichi Ogawa in what many felt was a bad decision. However, that loss was overturned to a no contest after Ogawa tested positive for a banned substance. Now Farmer will have his second chance to win his first title but he will have to do it in Dib's hometown.
This fight probably won't have any knockdowns and don't expect either fighter to even hurt the other. What fans can expect though is a fight that features a high skill level. Both Dib and Farmer have quick hands but look for Farmer to be the far busier puncher. Dib will do what he usually does, look to land a few punches and clinch. Meanwhile, Farmer will look to counter and when Dib tries to clinch Farmer will probably be trying to bang him to the body. One concern for Farmer since he isn't a knockout puncher is that it might be hard for him to get a close decision in Dib's backyard.
PREDICTION: It is never easy to get a decision in another fighter's hometown but that is just what Tevin Farmer will do against Billy Dib. Farmer's higher punch output and better defense will be the difference in this fight as he escapes Australia with a majority decision.
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| Dib celebrating a victory |
The 32-year-old Dib has been fighting professionally since 2004 but hasn't always been involved in big fights. During his 14-year career he's fought for a world title eight times which certainly gives him the experience advantage over Farmer. However, he hasn't faced many top names, the best on his resume being Takashi Miura and Evgeny Gradovich who he fought twice, losing both times. Since he is an older fighter and isn't a huge name in the sport this could be his last chance to win a title and to do that he will need to take care of business against Farmer.
Farmer is a southpaw who has worked his way to title contention despite a rough start to his career and the fact that he has no power to speak of. What Farmer does have is a good jab and straight left hand and he will bang those punches upstairs and to the body. He likes to be aggressive in coming forward but isn't too aggressive and instead will look to land clean counter punches. Although Farmer doesn't have any real power he is an accurate puncher with quick hands and can surprise opponents with a sharp right hook. He is also good defensively, working out of the Philly shell which allows him to block and slip punches when he's in the pocket.
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| Farmer catching an opponent with a right hook |
This fight probably won't have any knockdowns and don't expect either fighter to even hurt the other. What fans can expect though is a fight that features a high skill level. Both Dib and Farmer have quick hands but look for Farmer to be the far busier puncher. Dib will do what he usually does, look to land a few punches and clinch. Meanwhile, Farmer will look to counter and when Dib tries to clinch Farmer will probably be trying to bang him to the body. One concern for Farmer since he isn't a knockout puncher is that it might be hard for him to get a close decision in Dib's backyard.
PREDICTION: It is never easy to get a decision in another fighter's hometown but that is just what Tevin Farmer will do against Billy Dib. Farmer's higher punch output and better defense will be the difference in this fight as he escapes Australia with a majority decision.
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